RSS Feed Integration: What It Is and How to Use It

Stay Updated with Automatic Form Response Notifications #

Monitor your form submissions effortlessly through RSS feeds that deliver real-time updates directly to your favorite RSS reader. FORMEPIC’s built-in RSS feed functionality transforms each form into a subscribable feed, letting you track new responses without checking your dashboard constantly. Perfect for teams, agencies, and anyone who prefers centralized notification management through RSS readers.

Subscribe once and receive automatic notifications whenever new form submissions arrive, all through the RSS reader you already use daily. Consolidate form notifications with your news feeds, blogs, and other subscriptions in one unified interface. No email clutter, no separate notification systems—just simple, standardized RSS feeds that work with any modern RSS reader application.

Stay informed without email overload by routing notifications to your RSS reader, streamline monitoring across multiple forms by subscribing to each form’s feed, integrate form updates into your existing content consumption workflow, and customize notification preferences through your RSS reader’s settings. RSS feeds provide a clean, efficient way to monitor form activity without adding complexity to your inbox.

What Is RSS? #

RSS Basics #

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a standardized web feed format that allows websites and applications to publish frequently updated content in a machine-readable format. RSS readers (also called feed aggregators or news readers) subscribe to these feeds and automatically check for new content, delivering updates directly to users.

How RSS Works for Forms #

1. Feed Generation: FORMEPIC creates a unique RSS feed URL for each form
2. Subscription: You add this feed URL to your RSS reader application
3. Automatic Checking: Your RSS reader periodically checks the feed for new submissions
4. Notifications: New form responses appear as new feed items
5. Reading: You view submission details directly in your RSS reader

Benefits of RSS for Form Monitoring #

Centralized Monitoring:

• View all form submissions alongside news and blog updates
• One application for all content consumption
• Reduced context switching between apps

Email Alternative:

• Avoid email notification clutter
• No spam filters blocking notifications
• Cleaner, more organized notification system

Flexible Control:

• Choose update frequency in your RSS reader
• Mark submissions as read/unread
• Archive or delete items easily
• Organize feeds into folders

Offline Access:

• Many RSS readers cache content for offline viewing
• Review submissions without internet connection
• Sync across devices

How to Set Up RSS Feed Integration #

Step 1: Locate Your Feed URL #

From Form Builder:

1. Open your form in the Form Builder
2. Navigate to the Integrations panel in the right sidebar
3. Scroll down to the RSS Feed section
4. Your unique feed URL is displayed

Feed URL Format:
https://your-formepic-domain.com/api/feed/YOUR_FORM_ID

Step 2: Copy the Feed URL #

1. In the RSS Feed section, you’ll see the feed URL in a text field
2. Click the Copy button (clipboard icon) next to the URL
3. The URL is now copied to your clipboard
4. A confirmation message appears: “RSS feed URL copied to clipboard”

Alternative: Manually select and copy the entire URL from the text field

Step 3: Choose an RSS Reader #

Select an RSS reader application that suits your needs:

Desktop Applications:

• Feedly: Popular web-based reader with mobile apps
• Inoreader: Feature-rich reader with advanced filtering
• NetNewsWire: Free, open-source Mac/iOS app
• Thunderbird: Email client with built-in RSS support
• Outlook: Microsoft Outlook includes RSS reader functionality

Web-Based Readers:

• Feedly: Free tier available, premium features optional
• The Old Reader: Simple, minimalist interface
• Feedbin: Paid service with excellent features
• NewsBlur: Social feed reader with free tier

Mobile Apps:

• Feedly: iOS and Android
• Reeder: iOS (premium)
• News Explorer: iOS, Mac with iCloud sync
• FeedMe: Android

Browser Extensions:

• Feedbro: Firefox and Chrome extension
• RSS Feed Reader: Chrome extension
• Brief: Firefox extension

Step 4: Add Feed to Your RSS Reader #

The process varies slightly by reader, but generally follows these steps:

General Process:

1. Open your RSS reader application
2. Look for “Add Feed”, “Subscribe”, or “+” button
3. Paste your FORMEPIC feed URL
4. Give the feed a descriptive name (e.g., “Contact Form Submissions”)
5. Choose a folder or category if organizing feeds
6. Click “Subscribe” or “Add”

Specific Reader Examples:

Feedly:

1. Click “Add Content” or “+” button
2. Paste your feed URL in the search box
3. Click the feed when it appears in results
4. Click “+ feedly” button
5. Choose a collection (folder)
6. Done!

Thunderbird:

1. Go to File > Subscribe
2. Click “Manage Subscriptions”
3. Click “Add” button
4. Paste feed URL
5. Give it a name
6. Click OK

NetNewsWire:

1. Click File > New Feed
2. Paste feed URL
3. Click “Add”
4. Choose a folder
5. Click “Add Feed”

Step 5: Verify Feed Subscription #

1. Wait a few minutes for initial sync
2. If your form has existing submissions, they should appear
3. If not, submit a test entry to your form
4. Check your RSS reader for the new submission
5. Submission details will appear as feed item

Understanding RSS Feed Content #

Feed Item Structure #

Each form submission appears as a separate RSS feed item containing:

Title:

• Usually displays submission timestamp
• Example: “New Submission – January 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM”

Description/Content:

• Complete submission data formatted for readability
• Field labels and submitted values
• Submission metadata (IP, user agent, referrer)
• Submission ID for reference

Date/Time:

• Exact submission timestamp
• Used by RSS readers for sorting and filtering
• Displayed in your local timezone

Link:

• Direct link to view submission in FORMEPIC dashboard
• Opens full submission details
• Requires login to FORMEPIC

Sample Feed Item #

Title: New Submission – Contact Form
Date: January 15, 2025 10:30 AM
Content:

• Name: John Doe
• Email: john@example.com
• Message: I’m interested in your services
• Submission ID: sub_abc123
• IP: 192.168.1.1
• Submitted: 2025-01-15T10:30:00Z

Managing RSS Feeds #

Organizing Multiple Form Feeds #

Create Folders/Categories:

• Group related form feeds together
• Example: “Contact Forms”, “Order Forms”, “Survey Forms”
• Organize by department, client, or purpose

Use Descriptive Names:

• Rename feeds for clarity
• Example: “Website Contact Form” instead of generic “Form Feed”
• Include location or purpose in name

Color Coding:

• Many readers support color tags
• Assign colors to form types or priority levels
• Visual organization for quick scanning

Setting Update Frequency #

Most RSS readers allow you to configure:

• Check frequency (every 15 minutes, hourly, daily)
• Manual update only option
• Automatic refresh on app open
• Background refresh settings

Recommendations:

• High-priority forms: Check every 15-30 minutes
• Regular forms: Hourly checks
• Low-priority forms: Daily checks
• Reduce checking frequency to save bandwidth and battery

Managing Notifications #

Reader Notification Settings:

• Enable desktop notifications for new items
• Set notification sound preferences
• Badge counters for unread items
• Quiet hours or do-not-disturb modes

Filtering Rules:

• Create rules to highlight important submissions
• Auto-mark certain submissions as read
• Move items to specific folders based on content
• Flag priority submissions for follow-up

RSS Feed Best Practices #

• Organize by Form Type: Group similar forms together in folders
• Use Descriptive Feed Names: Rename feeds to reflect form purpose
• Set Appropriate Update Intervals: Don’t over-check feeds
• Mark as Read Regularly: Keep your feed clean and manageable
• Combine with Email Notifications: Use both for critical forms
• Test Feed Subscriptions: Submit test entries to verify feed works
• Share Feeds with Team: Some readers support shared folders
• Archive Old Items: Regularly clean up read submissions
• Use Multiple Readers: Sync across devices with cloud-based readers
• Bookmark Important Submissions: Flag items needing follow-up

RSS Feed Advantages Over Email #

No Email Clutter:

• Keeps inbox clean
• Separate from regular correspondence
• Doesn’t trigger email notification fatigue

Better Organization:

• Group all form feeds together
• Easy sorting and filtering
• Visual scanning of submissions

Unified Interface:

• One app for all forms
• Consistent reading experience
• Reduced context switching

Offline Access:

• Cached content available offline
• Read on flights or without connectivity
• Sync when connection restored

No Spam Filters:

• RSS items never get marked as spam
• Guaranteed delivery to your reader
• No lost notifications

Privacy:

• No email tracking pixels
• No read receipts
• Private consumption of content

Requirements #

• A saved form with an assigned Form ID
• An RSS reader application or service
• Internet connection to subscribe and sync
• Form must have at least one submission to appear in feed initially

Tips and Tricks #

• Test with Existing Submissions: If your form already has responses, they’ll appear in the feed immediately
• Use Mobile Readers: Access feeds on-the-go with mobile RSS apps
• Set Up Team Feeds: Share feed URLs with team members for collaborative monitoring
• Combine with Webhooks: Use both RSS and webhooks for comprehensive monitoring
• Create Feed Collections: Organize by client, project, or department
• Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Most readers offer keyboard navigation for efficiency
• Enable Offline Mode: Cache submissions for airplane or low-connectivity situations
• Export Feed Items: Many readers allow exporting to PDF or other formats
• Use Search Functions: Find specific submissions quickly with reader search
• Set Up Reading Lists: Flag submissions for follow-up with star/favorite features

Important Notes #

• RSS feeds are read-only—you cannot respond or edit through the feed
• Feed updates depend on your RSS reader’s refresh interval
• Some readers cache feed items locally for offline access
• Feed URLs are public but require no authentication to subscribe
• Sensitive form data is visible to anyone with the feed URL—consider security
• Deleted forms will result in broken feed URLs
• Feed items typically show the most recent 50-100 submissions
• Older submissions may not appear in feed depending on feed configuration
• RSS feeds don’t require FORMEPIC account login to view
• Changes to form structure don’t affect existing feed items

Common Issues & Troubleshooting #

Feed Not Updating #

Issue: RSS reader shows old items but not new submissions

Solutions:

• Manually refresh the feed in your reader
• Check your reader’s update interval settings
• Verify form is still active and receiving submissions
• Submit a test entry to force feed update
• Check if reader is online and syncing
• Try removing and re-adding the feed

Feed URL Not Working #

Issue: RSS reader can’t find or connect to feed

Solutions:

• Verify you copied the complete feed URL
• Check for extra spaces at beginning or end of URL
• Ensure form is saved (new forms don’t have feeds yet)
• Confirm form ID is valid
• Try accessing feed URL directly in browser
• Check if your RSS reader supports the feed format

Submissions Not Appearing #

Issue: Feed connects but no submissions show

Solutions:

• Verify form has at least one submission
• Submit a test entry to populate the feed
• Wait a few minutes for feed to sync
• Refresh feed manually in your reader
• Check form is enabled and accepting submissions
• Verify you’re viewing the correct feed

Feed Items Showing Wrong Data #

Issue: Feed content doesn’t match actual submissions

Solutions:

• This likely indicates a caching issue
• Force refresh in your RSS reader
• Clear reader cache if option available
• Remove and re-add the feed
• Wait for reader’s automatic cache refresh
• Check if form structure changed recently

Can’t Copy Feed URL #

Issue: Copy button not working

Solutions:

• Manually select and copy the URL from text field
• Try different browser if button fails
• Check browser clipboard permissions
• Refresh the page and try again
• Type URL manually if copying fails

Too Many Notifications #

Issue: Getting overwhelmed with RSS notifications

Solutions:

• Reduce feed update frequency in reader settings
• Disable notifications for less critical feeds
• Use folder organization to separate priorities
• Set up quiet hours in reader settings
• Consider muting notifications for specific feeds
• Use filters to auto-mark certain items as read

Feed Showing Duplicate Items #

Issue: Same submissions appearing multiple times

Solutions:

• This is usually a reader caching issue
• Clear reader cache
• Remove and re-add the feed
• Check if feed URL was added multiple times
• Update RSS reader to latest version
• Contact reader support if problem persists

Feed Items Missing Content #

Issue: Feed shows titles but not submission details

Solutions:

• Check reader’s content display settings
• Try opening item in FORMEPIC dashboard via link
• Verify reader supports full content display
• Try different RSS reader
• Check if reader has content filtering enabled